UK-based global healthcare provider Vernacare is celebrating 60 years of supporting patient care through sustainable medical pulp manufacture at its Bolton facility.
Established in 1961 under the name Vernon & Co, Vernacare first launched a small range of disposable medical products in 1964, including the male urinal and bedpan. Utilising overissued newspaper, this type of product was a first for the industry in both infection prevention standards and what would transpire to be a big step in sustainable production.
Vernacare has been at the forefront of supporting patient care, providing reliable, high-quality products that prioritise dignity and hygiene. Its pioneering efforts in single-use medical pulp have not only contributed to the advance of infection prevention in hospitals but have also helped make daily toileting and bathing safer and easier for millions of patients worldwide.
The system of using single-use medical pulp in combination with a hospital macerator is designed to reduce the risk of infection by ensuring that each patient has a clean, disposable receptacle for toileting or bathing. Once used, the medical pulp is hygienically and efficiently disposed of in the macerator, minimising any potential cross-contamination risk and maintaining a safe and sanitary environment in healthcare settings.
The full range of medical pulp includes male and female urinals, disposable washbowls, bedpans, kidney bowls, and more, all made from 100 per cent recycled cellulose-based fibres which are fully biodegradable.
In support of these products as a Medical Device, Vernacare achieved the ISO 13485:2016 Quality Management Systems certification in January 2024, which is a globally accepted framework to support quality for medical devices.
At its 55,000 sq. ft facility in Bolton, the pulp manufacturing process has significantly grown, employing over 100 people from the local area working within the production facility, the on-site testing process, and in the maintenance tool room, where the team use their unique skills to hand make the pulp moulds in-house. As a further commitment to Vernacare’s support for the local community, the overissued newspaper and cardboard is locally sourced from another Bolton supplier.
Vernacare CEO Alex Hodges said: “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating 60 years of medical pulp manufacture. Even today, this product retains an incredibly important role in the prevention of infections in hospitals and was ahead of its time with its sustainability credentials. The manufacturing process may have modernised and expanded over the years, but one thing remains the same – a high quality, sustainable product designed to prevent infections.”
Steve Morris, operations manager at Bolton, added: “Our team at Bolton is a close-knit support system and we’re committed to supporting the local community through skilful employment opportunities, producing very important medical products here in the North West. The last 60 years have been a great success, and we’re looking forward to the next 60.”
